In our latest feature, we hear from some of the newest recruits on your local policing teams.

This week we hear from PC Kat Wallace, who is with the Met's South East Command Unit:

What made you join the Met?

I volunteer with young women and girls and am constantly telling them they can do whatever they want and be whoever they want to be. I realised that I needed to live by those words and now I’m doing the job I always wanted to! I also wanted there to be more female police officers for a number of reasons. It’s important to me that girls see women in different roles, and realise that these type of careers are open to them. From a public perspective I think some people prefer talking to a female officer, so it’s good that they have that option.

Read more: Meet new Met recruit Jayden Kamber

What has been the biggest challenge?

For me it was re-training because it was a massive change. I’d been in another job for many years so there were moments, when I started training, I thought ‘what am I doing?’. It was completely worth it though, because I love being an officer.

News Shopper:

What do your friends and family think of you joining?

My mum was not surprised because she remembers me showing her a picture of a dog when I was younger and explaining to her this was going to be my police dog when I was older! My friends have to remind me that my normal days are very different to their version of normal days. I’m grateful about that because it reminds me of what an extraordinary job I have.

Read more: Meet new Met recruit Morgan Younger

What do you think the community’s view of the police is?

I think that a lot of people think we don’t have time or are run off our feet because the Met is so busy. I think most would think of officers as the response type who come in to an emergency, and once that is handled have to leave to go to another incident. Many don’t realise there is a Safer Neighbourhoods Team dedicated to them, with officers who don’t have to rush off, are here for them and genuinely have time for their communities.

What do you enjoy about the job?

I love that I don’t know what I’ll be called to or how my day will go. I also really enjoy the community aspect of the job and talking to people, going to see them, listening to them talk, and being able to help.